The only reason I call these brownie bites is because they’re intoxicating, and therefore I suggest you savor these slowly and in small amounts to prevent any sudden overdose of enjoyment.
This recipe is different from the gluten-free baked brownie recipes I’ve made in the past, not only because there’s no baking involved, but also because they’re sweetened entirely with Medjool dates.
While the only source of sweetness in this recipe comes from the Medjool dates, you’re getting quite a bit more than sweetness when you eat dates, including valuable fiber, vitamins, and minerals, including copper, magnesium, and potassium. I’m constantly looking for sources of magnesium and other minerals to reduce my tendency to cramp after a hard bike ride, tennis match, or yoga session.
Raw Brownie Bites
Ingredients
- 2 cups raw walnuts or other soft-to-the-bite nut
- 1 cup raw cacao or cocoa
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1/8 teaspoon vanilla bean powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/2 cups Medjool dates, pitted about 16 dates
Instructions
- Using a food processor, process the nuts until they are the consistency of nut flour.
- Add the cacao and sea salt to the walnut flour and pulse to blend well.
- Optionally, add the vanilla extract or powder and pulse again to blend well.
- Add one date at a time to the mixture through the feed tube on the processor. Don't add too many dates—just enough so the batter resembles cake crumbs, but when pressed between your fingers, it sticks together. The more dates you add, the better it will stick together, but the denser the brownie will be. I prefer them lighter, so I use the smallest amount of dates necessary to get the batter sticking together.
- Empty the batter into a dish (I use a square 8 by 8 inch dish), and press down evenly.
- Place in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes, and then slice them into cubes with a knife. They are easier to slice when a bit cold. Store cold, or at room temperature.
I found this recipe a while back and have made these more times than I care to admit to, seeing as how I eat the whole delicious pan myself! These are fantastic and the perfect cure for my chocolate cravings. By chance, do you have the nutrition info for these? I want to make them for my FIL who is on a diet for health reasons but can cheat a little 🙂 Thanks for the wonderful recipe!!!
Added the nutritional info. Thanks!
I didn’t have walnuts, so I ended up using what nuts I had (mix of brazil, peanuts and mixed nuts ) and even then, I had to add half quantity of coconut flakes.
The dates I used were the small ones, and I had to add ALOT, to get it to start sticking, and still, it didn’t. I resorted to adding melted butter. And 1 Tbs of caster sugar as it was a bit bitter.
Tasted really good. I think the coconut flakes made it not stick too well, and the fact that I could not grind my nut / coconut mixture very fine.
Do you have a suggested quantity if using almond pulp(leftover from making almond milk and not dehydrated)?
Sorry, I don’t know if it will work, but let me know if you do try this, I’m curious.
My husband can’t have nuts so we used cashews instead. Delish!
I’m confused. Cashew is a nut.
Love these! Easy and delicious!
I just made these. I soaked the walnuts first and I added 1/4 cup of spirulina for some extra nutrition. They are very yummy and not too sweet. We cut ours with heart cookie cutters for v day.
THANKS!
sweet!
Have you substituted carob for the cacao??
I am sensitive to it!! Can you believe that!! no more chocolate!!!! uhhh
not yet. I’m going to try it soon. I did cut down and had some yesterday – a small amount (non-sugar kind) and I was ok, but I’m being really careful. It would be tragic to not be able to eat chocolate!
I’m so glad you linked this recipe to your facebook page. Just made them this morning and they are awesome!
IMA LOVIN’ THIS RECIPE! I adore dates to sweeten recipes. I call dates “God’s candy”. What a gift He gave for us to enjoy! Thanks for this recipe. I’m excited to try it.
Jen
Thank you for these! They are delicious! I’ve included a link to them on my list of favorite healthy homemade snacks. http://expectgreatthings.hubpages.com/hub/Sugar-Free-Grain-Free-Snacks-Even-Your-Children-Will-Eat-Homemade
I want to make these today, but only have cocoa powder on hand, can I substitute it for the cacao powder?
Yes, note that I say you can use cocoa powder as a sub.
Also, I did the calorie calculations in case you are interested.
If you cut the brownies into 24 pieces, each piece is: 88 calories, 6g fat, 2.4g fiber and 2g protein.
Bonus: They are kosher for passover!
That’s awesome. Thanks for doing that. How did you work it out? Is there a website you used?
Seriously one of the best recipes I’ve ever tried. Thank you so much. These are definitely going to be a new house staple for me!
Amazingly delicious! 🙂
I was wondering if you could substutute the dates with natural peanut butter?
You’d be taking away the only source of sweetener.
My grandson is alergic to nuts and dairy. What would be a suitable replacement for the nuts?
Not sure, since I haven’t tried anything other than nuts, but coconut flour might work. I just don’t know the amount, but I’m guessing about 1/4 of the amount of nuts added. Let us know if you try it.
not sure – maybe sunflower seeds?
Do you dehydrate your nuts first?
No, I don’t.
I made these for my son w/Crohn’s for Valentine’s Day and he loved them! I really appreciated being able to give him a special treat. I used 1-3/4 cups almond flour, so thanks for the tip.
Just made these and they were very tasty. Can’t remember how many dates i put in but it wasn’t 16 maybe 10 so mine has a real chocolate bite. Lovely treat…I have just hidden them in the freezer so I can dig one or two out when I’m feeling like a treat.
beautiful
If I were to use almond flour instead of pulsing nuts, do you know how much I should use? thanks.
ooh. good question. I don’t know for sure, but I would go with 1 1/2 cups and see how the consistency is. Measuring 2 cups of nuts leaves a lot of air space. It might be closer to 1 3/4 cups but start slow. And let us know if you remember.
Made these tonight n put walnuts on top. Yummo!!
Have just discovered your blog while looking for pudding recipes that use avocado and am so excited! I am a vegetarian, but my daughter has nut allergies, which makes this recipe daunting. It looks so incredible that I am determined to find a way to modify it, however.
And am even more excited to see all the recipes utilizing coconut flour – have never heard of this!! I have many, many friends with multiple dietary restrictions – this blog gives me so many ideas! Thanks for gifting it to us.
thanks! Hmm. No nuts. I have been playing around with coconut flour for brownies. Nothing yet though. Enjoy!
Would seeds work? Liker pumpkin or sunflower? I am making these tomorrow for a ladies night gathering-much safer to share 🙂
can you use cacao butter rather than powder to make it SCD legal?
I don’t think it would work – different consistency and taste between the two. Let us know if you try it though.
Mmmmm. Looks good!
🙂
Wow, these look amazing! My massage therapist made me brownies just like this the other day but she said the recipe was secret. These look SO similar. Totally going to make them for HER and see what she says. hehe
These look so amazing. And I have the biggest chocolate tooth, perhaps this side of the Cascades, so I’d love to dive in … but I can’t do almond flour. Might coconut flour be used instead?
I don’t use almond flour – just walnuts. I don’t know if coconut flour will work, but it’s worth a try.
these look and read tasty. I wanted to comment on muscle cramps and magnesium. No matter how much whole foods rich in magnesium we might eat, those on the Gluten Spectrum invariably have malabsorption issues, even once healed. Compound that with the fact soils are so depleted that even if you eat 100% organc, you’re not going to get enough nutrients just from eating. Whille I’m a whole foods person and counsel patients all the time in traditional food therapy, I also recommend supplements. When someone has muscle ramps I generally recommend magnesium in a chelated formula but Mg Oxide works well and is cheaper. I also add Potassium. I’m finding so many people are K+ deficient, which could be an underlying cause of Hypertension. This is not meant as medicial treatment. It’s a starting point to rethink your nutritional needs and possibly reverse troubling conditions. Changing my diet and supplements reversed pre-Diabetes, Hypothyroidism, DH, and other auto- immune factors. I’m working on Potassium for Hypertension that hasn’t responded any conventional or CAM approaches in any meaningful way until now. So far, it takes 2- 99 mg x QID for a total 8 tablets spread throughout the day PLUS 250 mg Magnesium x3. So far, I’ve noticed several benefits beyond lower BP. What a compllete reversal of what we’re inculcated to trust is the only path to treatment for a myriad of diseases.
This I am definitely making. I am always looking for a healthy treat!
can’t wait to try it!
I cannot wait to try these. I’m on a restricted carbohydrate diet and these can serve as a splurge for me. Thanks!
These are such a great treat! So many fun variations are possible too! I like to add peppermint oil or raw cacao chips.
Oh, I know! I tried to restrain myself so I could share the most basic recipe and the basis for many others. Orange oil, raspberry syrup, epresso bean powder, almond oil, and so much more! Just endless 🙂
These sound like something I would have an overdose of enjoyment from! I can’t WAIT to try these! I just bought a 5 lb bag of raw dates too! 🙂 I’m trying to cut out sugar and grains from my diet, and this sounds like something I would really really enjoy… Thanks 🙂
You won’t be disappointed! I just made these tonight, and they are rich, chocolatey, and wonderful! I went a little bit heavier on the (Himalayan) sea salt, because I love the taste of salted chocolate!
~ Carolyn
love salted chocolate!